MBBS state quota: Non-resident Himachalis to challenge change in criteria

Non-resident bona fide Himachalis are planning to move court to challenge the new eligibility criteria for seeking admission to the MBBS and BDS courses under the 85 per cent state quota. As per the changed criteria notified by the state government a couple of days ago, the aspirants seeking admission under the Himachali quota must have passed two of four classes (Class VIII to XII) from the educational institutions in the state.

Incidentally, the present Congress government had in 2023 removed the schooling condition for the aspirants seeking admission under the state quota. The only condition to avail of the quota benefit was that the candidate should be a bona fide Himachali, whether residing in the state or outside.

The Himachalis living and employed in other states assert that the change in the criteria is discriminatory as their children will be denied the chance to avail of the quota benefit.

“The children of state government officials deputed outside the state, Central Government employees and defence personnel are exempted from the schooling condition but the children of Hiamchalis working in the private sector in other states have to clear at least two classes in the state,” claims an individual associated with the All India Pravasi Himachali United Front.

He says that the state government, while withdrawing the schooling condition in 2023, had contended in the court that it wanted to provide equal rights to all people of Himachal Pradesh. “The Advocate General had then submitted in the court that some people/parents were compelled to reside outside the state due to their jobs and hence it could not be expected that their children receive education in the state. So, we want to know what has changed in these two years,” asked another person associated with the association of non-resident Himachalis.

The non-resident Himachalis are also questioning the logic behind changing the criteria frequently. “Such frequent changes cause unnecessary confusion among the aspirant students,” he adds.